NFL Injury Updates: Wharton, Lions, Colts
Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton suffered a hamstring injury in his Panthers debut and will miss time as a result.
Head coach Dave Canales said (via team reporter Darin Gantt) that Wharton’s absence would be “somewhere in the two- to four-week range.” That could preclude a move to injured reserve, as Wharton would be sidelined for a mandatory four week after his placement. Given the nature of his injury, the Panthers likely want to get him back on the practice field sooner as he ramps up to game readiness.
Wharton, 27, signed in Carolina this offseason for $15MM per year with the hopes of combining with Derrick Brown and A’Shawn Robinson to upgrade the Panthers’ interior pass rush. The former Chief put up a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2024 and added two more in the playoffs.
Until Wharton returns to the field, the Panthers will lean on a backups Bobby Brown and Jaden Crumedy. Rookie Cam Jackson should also get more opportunities after sitting as a healthy scratch in Week 1.
Here are several other injury updates from around the NFL:
- Lions offensive tackle Jamarco Jones, who was placed on injured reserve before Week 1, will be out for the season with an ankle injury, per Justin Rodgers of the Detroit Football Network. Safety Daniel Thomas, meanwhile, is planning to play through a broken hand, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
- The Texans‘ offense has taken another hit with center Jake Andrews sustaining a high ankle sprain, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The veteran starter has an unclear return timeline with backup Jarrett Patterson set to take his place.
- Eagles running back Will Shipley sustained a fractured rib in Week 1, according to 97.5 The Fanatic’s Derrick Gunn, partially explaining the team’s recent acquisition of Tank Bigsby from the Jaguars. In addition to replacing Shipley as Saquon Barkley‘s primary backup, Bigsby will also be able to contribute as a returner on special teams.
- The Colts could be without multiple pieces of their secondary in Week 2, per Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. Starter Charvarius Ward is still in concussion protocol, and third-year corner Jaylon Jones could land on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Head coach Shane Steichen said that Jones would be “out for a while” and declined to put a timeline on his return.
- The Packers will be without a pair of starting offensive linemen on Thursday night against the Commanders. Left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom were both ruled out with 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan and rookie third-rounder Anthony Belton taking their respective places.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/25
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Keni-H Lovely
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from non-football injury list: LB Jake Hummel
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Deon Cain
- Waived: CB Daryl Porter Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from active/NFI list: DT Bobby Brown, P Sam Martin
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Toa Taua
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Nick Whiteside
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/NFI list: OL Elgton Jenkins
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Josh Tupou
- Placed on IR: OT Jack Wilson
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: RB Nate Noel
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB Chaz Chambliss
New England Patriots
- Activated from active/NFI list: S Josh Minkins
New Orleans Saints
- Released: OT Josh Ball
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/retired list: RB Zach Evans
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Quintez Cephus
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Donovan Kaufman
- Placed on IR: RB Kenny McIntosh (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Ramel Keyton
Jenkins, who switched to center this offseason, was dealing with a back injury in training camp and participated in a limited capacity on Monday, per USA Today’s Ryan Wood.
Evans, a sixth-round pick by the Rams in 2023, played in 10 games as a rookie but didn’t make the 53-man roster in 2024. He joined the Jets’ practice squad in December and signed a reserve/futures contract in January, but opted to retire instead.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/25
With training camps kicking off around the NFL, teams continue to make adjustments to their rosters. Here are today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Matt Sokol, WR David White
- Waived: WR Kelly Akharaiyi, P Jake Camarda
- Placed on active/PUP: OT Spencer Brown, C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger
- Placed on active/NFI: TE Dawson Knox
- Activated from active/PUP: DE Landon Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Tyler Mabry
- Released/failed physical: LB Josey Jewell (story)
- Placed on active/NFI: DT Bobby Brown
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DT Dante Barnett
- Placed on active/NFI: RB Zack Moss
Cleveland Browns
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Jaelen Gill
- Placed on active/PUP: DT Mike Hall Jr., QB Deshaun Watson
- Placed on active/NFI: WR David Bell
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: K Mark McNamee
Houston Texans
- Waived: CB Keydrain Calligan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on active/PUP: DT Maason Smith
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Phillip Dorsett, G Atonio Mafi, WR Seth Williams
- Waived: CB Mello Dotson, WR Zakhair Franklin, WR Key’Shawn Smith, LB Jailin Walker
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: OT Savion Washington
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Daniel Brunskill
- Waived: QB Brett Gabbert
- Placed on active/PUP: OL Liam Eichenberg, TE Darren Waller
- Placed on active/NFI: S Ifeatu Melifonwu
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on active/PUP: TE Taysom Hill, TE Foster Moreau
- Placed on reserve/retired: TE Dallin Holker, S Tyrann Mathieu (story)
New York Giants
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
- Waived/failed physical: S Anthony Johnson Jr.
- Placed on active/PUP: RB Eric Gray, LT Andrew Thomas
- Placed on active/NFI: LB Victor Dimukeje
New York Jets
- Waived: OT Obinna Eze
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Equanimeous St. Brown
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on active/PUP: OT Silas Dzansi, WR Chris Godwin, G Sua Opeta, QB Michael Pratt, OT Tristan Wirfs
- Placed on active/NFI: LB Anthony Walker
- Placed on active/non-football illness: DL Desmond Watson
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on active/PUP: C Lloyd Cushenberry, CB L’Jarius Sneed
Washington Commanders
- Waived/NFI: RB Michael Wiley
Panthers Injury Updates: Brown, Tremble, Barno, Wallace
After missing virtually all of the 2024 season, Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown is aiming for a full return to the field during training camp later this summer, per Joseph Person of The Athletic.
Brown tore his meniscus in Week 1 and underwent season-ending surgery that has kept him limited through spring practices, though he did participate in “walk-throughs and light side work” during mandatory minicamp, according to Person. Brown originally stated a desire to be ready for the 2025 regular season, but his timeline appears to have moved up.
Brown’s injury was particularly disappointing after a career-best 2023 season. He led all defensive linemen with 103 total tackles and was named to his first Pro Bowl, earning him a four-year, $96MM extension from the Panthers in April 2024. While he has never been a prolific pass rusher, Brown’s size and power has consistently commanded double-teams and created opportunities for his teammates. His impact was evident last season, as Carolina’s run defense ranked dead-last in his absence.
The Panthers spent significant resources this offseason on defensive line depth, which should allow them to manage Brown’s usage more carefully coming off a major injury. He played a whopping 940 defensive snaps in 2023 (89% of the team’s total) and was on the field for almost every play before his injury last year. With new teammates Tershawn Wharton, Bobby Brown III, and Cam Jackson ready to share the load, Derrick Brown can take a lower snap share to stay fresh and healthy for the entire season.
Here are a few updates on other Panthers returning from injuries:
- Tight end Tommy Tremble missed five games last season due to a lingering back injury that led to offseason surgery in May. He is expected to start training camp on the active/PUP list, according to Person. Youngsters Ja’Tavion Sanders and Mitchell Evans will have a chance to carve out a role in the Panthers’ offense during Tremble’s absence.
- Edge rusher Amare Barno may not be ready by training camp after a “clean-out procedure on his knee,” writes Person. Barno started the 2024 season on the PUP list and only appeared in five games before another injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.
- Linebacker Trevin Wallace returned from offseason shoulder surgery to participate in the Panthers’ spring practices, per Jeff Hawkins of The Charlotte Post. The 2024 third-rounder emerged as a starter as a rookie before landing on injured reserve in December. With Shaq Thompson departing for the Bills in free agency, Wallace is expected to start alongside veteran Josey Jewell in 2025.
NFC Contract Details: Mason, Vikings, Wharton, Panthers, Pack, Bears, Cowboys, Giants, Bucs, Brissett
Here are the details on a few of the more notable NFC contracts agreed to in recent days:
- Tershawn Wharton, DT (Panthers). Three years, $45.1MM. The former Chris Jones Chiefs sidekick will see $30.25MM fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Wharton’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries ($1.17MM, $13.45MM) are locked in. While the $45.1MM base value is less than initially reported, sack-, playoff- and Pro Bowl-based incentives make up a $9MM incentive package.
- Grady Jarrett, DT (Bears). Three years, $42.75MM. While $27.25MM is guaranteed at signing, the Bears are guaranteeing almost all of the ex-Falcon’s 2026 base salary ahead of time. $13MM of Jarrett’s $14.25MM 2026 paragraph 5 pay is locked in, with Wilson adding the other $1.25MM shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee of Day 3 of the ’26 league year. Jarrett is due a $1MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2027 league year, representing the Bears’ first true out on this contract.
- Ben Bredeson, G (Buccaneers). Three years, $22MM. The Bucs are guaranteeing their 2024 O-line signee $12.5MM at signing. A $5.5MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, per Wilson, who adds a $500K roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the ’27 league year.
- Bobby Brown, DT (Panthers). Three years, $21MM. Of this total, only $6.8MM is guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. Brown will see $9.58MM guaranteed in total, with $2.77MM of Brown’s $5.55MM 2026 base salary shifting from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the ’26 league year, Wilson adds. A $6MM incentive package is present in the Panthers’ other notable DT deal.
- Brandon McManus, K (Packers). Three years, $15MM. The veteran kicker’s $5MM signing bonus represents his only at-signing guarantee, though the deal includes what amounts to a guaranteed $1.4MM 2025 base salary as well. ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky also indicates a $1MM roster bonus is in place for 2026. Nothing is guaranteed beyond 2025, however.
- KaVontae Turpin, WR (Cowboys). Three years, $13.5MM. This is $4.5MM south of the initially reported value. The Cowboys have guaranteed the All-Pro returner $5MM at signing; that comes from a $3.6MM signing bonus and a $1.4MM 2025 base salary, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets. Nothing is guaranteed beyond 2025. After Turpin totaled 420 receiving yards last season, Dallas included a $250K yearly incentive for a 500-yard season, Archer adds. That jumps to $500K for a 700-yard season.
- Jacoby Brissett, QB (Cardinals). Two years, $12.5MM. This is a nice bump for Brissett, who has played on one-year deals in each of the past four seasons. The nomadic backup/fill-in starter will see $8MM guaranteed, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
- James Hudson, OL (Giants). Two years, $11MM. Hudson will see $5.8MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. That comes from a signing bonus and a guaranteed 2025 salary; no 2026 Hudson money is locked in.
- Jordan Mason, RB (Vikings). Two years, $10.5MM. Minnesota is guaranteeing Mason $7.23MM at signing, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. The former Christian McCaffrey backup will see $2MM of his $4.73MM 2026 base salary fully guaranteed. Incentives on Mason’s deal start at 800 rushing yards in a season, with a $200K bump coming if the former sixth-round pick reaches that number.
- Roy Robertson-Harris, DL (Giants). Two years, $9MM. Robertson-Harris will see $5.3MM guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets. The Giants guaranteed the veteran interior D-lineman $1MM of his $3.5MM 2026 base at signing. It would cost the Giants $2.4MM in dead money to move on after one season, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan adds.
Panthers, DL Bobby Brown Agree To Deal
The Panthers made it a priority to upgrade along the defensive interior early in the lead-in to free agency. A Milton Williams agreement did not come to pass, but the team has managed to pivot quickly.
Bobby Brown has a deal in place, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The former Ram will not offer the impact against the pass that Williams would have, but he will provide a run-stopping presence for his new team. The 24-year-old handled starting duties with Los Angeles for each of the past two seasons.
Providing further details, Rapoport notes Brown will collect $21MM on a three-year pact. With a maximum value of $27MM (thanks to incentives), this deal marks quite the raise from his rookie contract. Brown slotted in at No. 48 on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent List, and he has not needed to wait long to secure a significant pact.
Pro Football Focus graded Brown as a top-30 run-defending DT during Aaron Donald‘s final season and last year, after the all-time great retired. The Panthers, whose defense spiraled to a last-place finish in 2024, will bet on Brown to help their run defense. Brown’s deal checks in south of where the Broncos went to retain nose tackle D.J. Jones late last night. With Brown not turning 25 until August, the Panthers have some upside here.
Brown is also familiar with Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, though perhaps somewhat indirectly. Evero was in place as Rams DBs coach during Brown’s rookie season, which doubled as the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI-winning campaign. Carolina will pair Bobby Brown with the recovering Derrick Brown in 2025. While the Panthers need to revamp their outside linebacker contingent, the two Browns figure to matter plenty up front.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/23
This week’s callups and minor moves heading into Sunday:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Elevated: DT Phil Hoskins, RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Waived: S Qwuantrezz Knight
Carolina Panthers:
- Elevated: WR Mike Strachan
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from IR: G Michael Dunn
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: LB Rashaan Evans
- Placed on IR: DL Viliami Fehoko
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: WR David Sills
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: DT Quinton Bohanna, T Connor Galvin
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: S Benny Sapp III
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: K Matt Ammendola, LB Garret Wallow
- Elevated: S Brandon Hill, WR Steven Sims
- Placed on IR: CB Grayland Arnold
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from IR: WR Richie James
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: WR DJ Turner
- Elevated: C Hroniss Grasu, T Brandon Parker
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Terrell Bynum, WR Alex Erickson
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: DT Bobby Brown (story)
New York Giants
- Elevated: K Randy Bullock, TE Tyree Jackson
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: DT Tanzel Smart
- Elevated: OL Jake Hanson, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from PUP: CB Darrell Luter Jr.
- Elevated: OL Corey Luciano
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: S Ty Okada
- Waived: T Jake Curhan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: S Richard LeCounte
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: S Mike Brown
- Signed to active roster: DE TK McLendon
- Elevated: LB Joe Jones, OL Andrew Rupcich
- Waived: S Matt Jackson, RB Jonathan Ward
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: RB Derrick Gore, DE Joshua Pryor
Evans had been called up from the practice squad three times by the Cowboys, meaning he needed to be added to the 53-man roster this week to continue suiting up. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports “several teams” attempted to poach the veteran off the taxi squad, but his decision to remain with Dallas has culminated in today’s move. Evans has logged 74 combined defensive and special teams snaps with the Cowboys so far, recording three tackles.
James was out of the lineup for one game after being designated for return, but he will be eligible to suit up for the upcoming Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles. Mentioned as a trade candidate earlier this year, he will be able to add depth to a WR corps which has underperformed to date, and add to his single catch recorded in his two Kansas City games at the start of the campaign.
Rams Designate NT Bobby Brown III For Return
While much of the injury focus in Los Angeles is surrounding Matthew Stafford‘s return, the Rams will also be getting some reinforcement on defense. The team announced that nose tackle Bobby Brown III has returned to practice and has been designated for return from injured reserve.
Brown suffered a knee injury in early October that ultimately required a stint on IR. The defensive lineman was expected to be sidelined for five to seven weeks, so Brown is currently in the middle of that recovery timeline.
The Rams will now have 21 days to activate Brown to the active roster. There’s no guarantee that the player will be in the lineup for Week 11, but Sean McVay didn’t completely dismiss the DL’s availability for Sunday.
“He looked good,” the coach said (via the team’s website). “It was good to get him back. He was another guy who we’ve missed.”
After starting only one of his 19 appearances through his first two seasons in the NFL, the former fourth-round pick had a more significant role to start the 2023 campaign. Brown started each of his five appearances this season, compiling 13 tackles while getting into about 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
Kobie Turner will continue to soak up a lot of the snaps at nose tackle next to DT Aaron Donald. Brown will be able to fill in for both of those starters, a role that practice-squad defensive lineman Cory Durden has held since Week 6.
Rams To Place DL Bobby Brown On IR
Sporting a retooled defense around Aaron Donald this season, the Rams will need to look deeper into their young nucleus. Bobby Brown‘s season will hit pause soon.
The Rams are expected to place Brown on IR, Sean McVay said Monday (via The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue). The third-year defensive lineman suffered a grade 3 MCL sprain. This actually represents one of the best possible scenarios for Brown, who will be a candidate to come off IR when eligible.
Last season, the Rams used IR to the point they ran out of activations late in the season. Of course, the season was lost by that point. McVay’s latest Rams team has authored an interesting first quarter this season, going 2-3 and submitting quality efforts against the unbeaten 49ers and Eagles.
After seeing the Rams let multiyear starters Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson walk in free agency (to the Buccaneers and Giants, respectively), Brown moved into a regular starting role for the first time as a pro. The former fourth-round pick has lined up alongside Donald as a first-stringer in all five Los Angeles games, coming after he started one contest over his first two seasons. Brown has already topped his season-high tackles number, registering 13 in five games, and Pro Football Focus rates him as a top-35 interior D-lineman.
Brown is one of several rookie-contract players making his debut as a Rams starter this year. In addition to Puka Nacua on offense, L.A.’s defense is rookie-deal-laden to the point it only trots out only two vested veterans — Donald and Ahkello Witherspoon — as starters. The team has third-round rookie Kobie Turner looming as a backup D-lineman. Former Titans draftee Larrell Murchison and 2021 Rams fifth-rounder Earnest Brown are also in place as D-line reserves.
The Rams have already used two of their eight allotted activations, bringing Cooper Kupp and rookie outside linebacker Ochaun Mathis off IR on Saturday. Brown will be eligible to return in Week 11, as the Rams’ bye arrives in Week 10.
Rams Reduce Roster To 53 Players
As the Rams look to defend their Super Bowl title, the team reduced their roster to the 53-man limit today:
Waived:
- WR Landen Akers
- T AJ Arcuri
- T Chandler Brewer
- DE Earnest Brown IV
- TE Roger Carter
- DE T.J. Carter
- DT Elijah Garcia
- LB Chris Garrett
- DB Jake Gervase
- DB Grant Haley
- TE Jacob Harris
- LB Anthony Hines
- DB Daniel Isom
- G Jeremiah Kolone
- DB Duron Lowe
- TE Jared Pinkney
- T Max Pircher
- RB Trey Ragas
- G Jack Snyder
- DE Brayden Thomas
- WR Austin Trammell
- DE Benton Whitley
Placed on IR:
Placed on reserve/NFI:
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- DB Quentin Lake
Placed on reserve/suspended:
Jacob Harris getting cut came as a bit of a surprise after the 2021 fourth-round pick got into nine games as a rookie. However, he rarely got a look on offense in 2021, and despite the Rams only rostering two tight ends at the end of the day (Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins), Harris was let go. Chris Garrett was also a 2021 draft pick, being selected by the Rams in the seventh round. He only got into one game as a rook.
AJ Arcuri was a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, but the rookie didn’t show enough to crack the 53-man roster. There’s a good chance the Michigan State product lands back on the Rams practice squad.